The Elan 40 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and competitive on the racecourse.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 33.6′, the Elan 40 tops out around 7.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √33.6′ LWL = 7.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
66s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
SA / Displacement
19.8
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
35.5%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
187
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
23.9
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.00
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
23.9
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.00
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Elan 40 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Elan 40
66s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
Dehler 39
75s/nm
Etap 39S
90s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.0 |
5.1 |
5.7 |
6.0 |
| Beam Reach90° |
5.0 |
6.3 |
7.0 |
7.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.6 |
5.8 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
| Run150–180° |
3.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.8 kts),
SA/D (19.8), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Elan 40 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Elan 40.
|
Elan 40 |
Dehler 39 |
Etap 39S |
Grand Soleil 38 Finot |
Scanner 392 |
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
39.0 |
39.0 |
39.0 |
39.0 |
39.1 |
38.9 |
| LWL |
33.6 |
35.1 |
33.5 |
31.2 |
31.5 |
35.2 |
| Beam |
12.6 |
12.5 |
12.6 |
12.3 |
11.8 |
12.8 |
| Displacement |
15 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
17 |
| Ballast |
5 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Sail Area |
780 |
1,032 |
649 |
656 |
— |
829 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
66 |
75 |
90 |
— |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
19.8 |
26.7 |
17.1 |
17.3 |
— |
19.9 |
| Bal/Disp |
35.5 |
42.1 |
33.1 |
35.3 |
40.2 |
29.0 |
| Comfort |
23.9 |
22.7 |
22.5 |
24.5 |
— |
24.9 |
| Capsize |
2.00 |
2.02 |
2.05 |
1.99 |
— |
1.97 |
| Hull Speed |
7.8 |
7.9 |
7.8 |
7.5 |
— |
8.0 |